I've got a dying team and really need some assistance.

[Eternity_Soap]

To make a relatively long story short, my team was nearly dealt a deathblow this year. At the beginning of the build season, my coach was forced to take a leave of absence, such that he could no longer hold any contact with the team. He was the one who managed the teams finances, as well as the only one around who had real experience working with FIRST and knew the procedure regarding activities like bagging and tagging. Additionally, he was the team's only connection to our high school. This alone nearly sunk us, as the high school administration was not exactly willing to let the team go and compete without anyone from the school. We were saved by the fact that we are technically a neighborhood team, as we have some kids from a nearby private school. Throughout the rest of the build season we were in a frantic rush to complete a robot and figure everything out. We ended up having a parent step in to coach. She had no engineering experience that she could offer us, meaning that we, for the most part, had to trust our amateur engineering skills. The result was... interesting. As one might expect the robot wasn't ultra high performance (as a matter of fact it failed miserably and sometimes hilariously), but we still scraped by at two regional competitions.

Now that they are both over, it is time to think to the future. To make matters slightly worse, we're a bit short on members. As mentioned previously, we have no adult mentors remaining either, and the parent that took over for this year understandably has no intention of doing the same next year. Being a high school senior this year, I don't have very long to act. I believe that I've got three problems to tackle: Finding new team mentors, acquiring new sponsors, and recruitment/retention.

My team is located on Florida's space coast, and as such I would think that the opportunities for mentors/sponsorship from local aerospace companies would be abundant. The problem is I really do not know how to go about this. My coach was the one that would handle the acquisition of sponsors and grants, and I myself am relatively new to FIRST. This is where I seek help. I originally posted this on the FRC subreddit, and was pointed here by members who said that I might find more credible advice from the experienced FIRST guys around here. Additionally, I've actually got an appointment with my principle to try and make a case for the team the coming Monday. If anyone has any ideas with respect to preparation in this regard, I am all ears.

[Sperkowsky]

Ill help you guys in any way you need. Whether this is through engineering advice or sponsorship advice. Pm me or email me sperkowsky@bethpageeagles.ws and we can try to setup a video call to work out all your issues. I have personally been in situations like this and know how to get out of them.

[ctt956]

Contact the aerospace companies, and any other company you can think of. Even if they're not engineering/technology/robotics related. You might be surprised! Just go to their websites and email or call them. Explain what FIRST is and what you do, and the situation with your team. Assuming you're in need of a new build space, ask them if they have any space you can use or know of anything. Advertise your team. If you're going from a school team to a community team, advertise in schools and wherever anyone who is remotely interested may be. Post it on social media, and have your friends and family pass it on. If there are any tech related events nearby, contact the organizers/whoever is in charge and see if you can demonstrate your robot there. Demos are always good for recruiting students, mentors, and sponsors. Try to get on the local news. Anything else you can think of to spread the word.

[EricH]

Call the other "local" team with 233 in their number and see if they can help you navigate some of these issues--including mentoring (it's not uncommon for teams to mentor each other, even years after the rookie year).

And yes, I am referring to The Pink Team.

[philso]

duplicated post

[philso]

Originally Posted by EricH

Call the other "local" team with 233 in their number and see if they can help you navigate some of these issues--including mentoring (it's not uncommon for teams to mentor each other, even years after the rookie year).

And yes, I am referring to The Pink Team.

Please note that 233 will be competing in Houston this weekend so they might not reply right away. There are other very accomplished teams in Florida such as 179 who are south of you.

We hope you are successful in keeping your team alive.

[gblake]

Some folks are giving advice that assumes you want/have to be associated with a school and/or have "your" school faculty involved in your team.

Being connected to a school can be very helpful (and occasionally isn't), but don't get tunnel vision.

Operating under an umbrella supplied by Scouting's Venture program, 4H, Boys & Girls Clubs, a homebrew 501C3, a local business, etc. are all perfectly fine alternatives to being a school team.

Florida's Exploding Bacon team might have some good advice to offer.

Blake
PS: Consider switching to FTC/VEX for a year or two if sustaining the FRC team turns out to be too hard. Again, avoid tunnel vision.

[GreyingJay]

Lots of great advice here.

Mine would be to add that anything is possible - as long as there are people to drive toward it. Mentors are the long term memory of any FRC team since students must come and go. Build spaces, sponsorships, money, tools, all of that comes when students and mentors go searching for it.

So your absolute #1 priority is finding mentors.

If you want to pursue the school connection, obviously you want to ask teachers to become involved. But you also have a community connection. Be sure to take advantage of that. Your students' parents are the first and obvious choice. Appeal to them for their help and support. I would say half of the mentors on our team are parents of team members.

Find places to show off what you've done and recruit potential new mentors. Offer to bring your team and your robot to any company that has sponsored you. Appeal to the employees to join your team.

Build a base of mentors who are willing to help do the work behind the scenes. As you've seen, it's a lot of work and it really shouldn't be left to one person. Get a core group of adults together who will commit to keeping the team going.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

So your absolute #1 priority is finding mentors.

And in particular, one or more head coach/champion(s) who will find a way to keep the team alive. Identifying your potential resources is a great step towards getting them, but the critical piece is having someone with the tenacity, time, and energy to keep at it and not take no for an answer on anything the team needs to survive.

Especially if you are a person of faith, I recommend prayer - in addition to all of the other things in this thread. If you aren't, this might be time to try.

[gorrilla]

You said your team is based in east cost florida? Try and get in contact with my old team 1557 from eustis. They are probably a bit of a drive from you guys. Other notable teams in your area are 1902 and 801 and 1251/1592
They may not be able to help out financially but if you ask im sure they would be happy to help any way they could.
Www.12voltbolt.com

[sportzkrazzy]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

You said your team is based in east cost florida? Try and get in contact with my old team 1557 from eustis. They are probably a bit of a drive from you guys. Other notable teams in your area are 1902 and 801 and 1251/1592
They may not be able to help out financially but if you ask im sure they would be happy to help any way they could.
Www.12voltbolt.com

1251/1592? We are two separate teams and 1251 is from south Florida haha.

[gorrilla]

Originally Posted by sportzkrazzy

1251/1592? We are to separate teams and 1251 is from south Florida haha.

Ha yeah, i was just commenting on yalls teams relationship and status as top tier florida teams!

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Especially if you are a person of faith, I recommend prayer - in addition to all of the other things in this thread. If you aren't, this might be time to try.

Which reminds me, don't discount the possible value of your community churches. They can offer places to meet, and could be a possible source of mentors and students.

[Madison]

Contact the Senior Mentor for Florida.

http://www.firstinspires.org/sites/d...entor-bios.pdf

Andrew Milluzzi
amilluzzi@usfirst.org

They are in a better position to help your team than anyone here.

[Eternity_Soap]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll use it to present a plan to my principle to revive the team. With any luck, he'll give me the green light and I can execute something.